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Jobs boost as A&P wins wave energy work

A&P Falmouth has won a landmark contract build a wave energy device to be deployed at Wave Hub, the offshore renewable energy test facility.

The company will manufacture, fabricate and assemble the wave energy converting device, Oceanus 2, for wave energy firm Seatricity. Work will begin this week and employ around 20 staff for a month.

The Oceanus 2 will be built in the fabrications workshops, assembled on the quayside and deployed from a wharf at the docks. It will be deployed in the spring and if successful, it will pave the way for the manufacture of a further 60 devices.

Paul Weston, A&P Falmouth’s renewable energy technical manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win the contract to build Seatricity’s next generation device to be deployed later this year Wave Hub, which is only a short distance from our shipyard in Falmouth. This is a tremendous boost, not only for A&P Falmouth but also for the local supply chain and demonstrates Cornwall’s growing reputation in the marine renewable energy industry.

“We are committed to helping the sector keep costs down and this project is a good example. We sat down with Seatricity at the concept stage and using our knowledge of working with aluminium identified substantial costs savings of 28 per cent.”

The device, a ten metre floating ring with cross tubes, travels up and down with the waves and operates a pump to pressurise sea water to drive a hydroelectric turbine to produce electricity.

The float is tethered to blocks on the seabed and the pumps are linked together to generate substantial amounts of highly pressurised water. This water can also be used for producing fresh water by reverse osmosis desalination process. Both fresh water and electricity can be produced simultaneously.

Peter Child, managing director of A&P Falmouth, said: “We are delighted to be working at the forefront of the marine renewables sector and have won many contracts in stiff competition with many of the UK’s other major yards.

“It is great news not only for A&P, but for the whole of Falmouth and the wider local economy. With the country in a period of economic uncertainty, to be able to sustain highly skilled jobs is something we are proud of and confirms our commitment to Falmouth and the renewables sector.”